Black Hills South Dakota
If you are traveling to Bozeman from the southeast, the Black Hills in South Dakota make an excellent stop. The Black Hills are actually mountains--and not hills--made of some of the oldest rocks in North America. The Lakota Sioux named the mountains Paha Sapa: papa meaning 'height' and sapa meaning 'black.' Translators named them the Black Hills to avoid confusion with the Black Mountains of North Carolina. Although the mountains are covered with evergreen trees, they appear to be black when viewed from a distance and against the openness of the Great Plains. The Black Hills are a refreshing sight after driving miles and miles through prairie land.
The Black Hills offer a spectrum of
outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking, biking, rock climbing,
camping, and fly-fishing. But what makes this area unique is it plethora of
historic and fascinating sites.
Deadwood
The tiny town of Deadwood lies in
the heart of the Black Hills. It was originally named "Dead Wood Gulch"
because a huge forest fire had once swept the area before the first miners
arrived, leaving dead trees strewn everywhere. The residents of the camp
started selling firewood and from then on the town had become known as
"Deadwood." People were attracted to Deadwood because it was at the center
of a gold rush. Deadwood is home to the nation's longest-running
underground gold mine, Homestake Gold Mine, which runs 8,000 feet deep.
Today, Deadwood is primarily a gambling town.
Rapid City
Rapid City is a
major gateway to the Black Hills. It is also the largest community in all
of western South Dakota, boasting 57,000 residents. As a regional hub,
Rapid City is the center for medical, educational, cultural, shopping, and
air transportation services. Although it is the largest town in the area,
Rapid City retains is small-town atmosphere and is home to many long-time
residents.
Mt. Rushmore National Memorial
The Black Hills is home to one
of the most famous monuments in America: Mt. Rushmore National Memorial.
The faces for former US presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,
Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, are carved into the side of a
granite rock wall. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum chose these presidents to
represent America's ideals of freedom and progress. The faces are 60 feet
tall and attract over 2.5 million visitors from around the world each year. There is a visitor's center which offers in depth information on this spectacular work of art.
Crazy Horse Memorial
The Crazy Horse Memorial was
initiated to recognize and honor Native Americans of all tribes--the
original inhabitants of our great nation. The Crazy Horse Memorial is being
carved into a granite wall in the same fashion that Mt. Rushmore was,
although it is several times bigger. When finished, the mountain sculpture
will depict Lakota Sioux leader Crazy Horse gallantly riding his horse. His
left hand will be pointing toward home where his people lived and died. The
memorial will stand 563 feet high and 641 feet long.
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Other pages you might find helpful:
Visit the Black Hills of South Dakota
Travel planning site for Black Hills, South Dakota. Learn about Deadwood, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and more!
